Chapter 3

Serena's expression hardened when she heard me. "You still don't realize what you did wrong?

"I know you. If you don't learn your lesson today, you'll only do something else to upset Seth even more."

Each of her slaps came down harder than the last.

The guests nearby began to comment among themselves.

"Mr. Johnson really is Ms. Clark's favorite. When it comes to him, there's nothing she won't do."

"Exactly! She could have gotten the bodyguard to punish this bastard, but she's doing it herself instead. That just shows how much Mr. Johnson means to her."

After finishing all 99 slaps, Serena was breathing heavily. I couldn't tell if she was exhausted or angry.

Seth thoughtfully brought her an ice pack. "Serena, your hand must hurt. Here, put this on it."

Serena held the ice pack in her hand, her gaze filled with affection for Seth. "No one cares about me the way you do."

I tried to smile, but the pain made my eyes sting.

Serena used to hold me close and tell me, "Having your love is all I could ever ask for."

Those promises were nothing but a joke now.

Maybe the sight of my pathetic smile annoyed Serena, as she snapped, "What are you waiting for? Get him to the hospital!"

"Wait!" Seth stopped the bodyguards as they dragged me outside.

He pulled Serena over to me and spoke in a voice that only the three of us could hear.

"I'm the winner of the Young Designers Competition now, but if Scott keeps creating designs, the judges will recognize his style," he said. "Serena, I want to make sure he can never hold a pen again."

Serena thought for a moment, then stroked my hand. "My husband doesn't need to be a designer anyway. If this will put Seth at ease, just bear with it."

I stared at Serena in horror and shook my head, struggling against them. "Serena, don't!"

I screamed when her expensive heel came down on my fingers with a sickening crunch.

The pain made my whole body tremble uncontrollably.

Seth, standing nearby, looked like he couldn't bear to watch. "Serena, that's too cruel. I heard that if you cut the tendons in his right hand, he would never be able to hold a pen again."

Serena affectionately brushed Seth's nose with a finger before finally lifting her foot from my hand.

Her voice was gentle, but her words were cruel. "See how thoughtful Seth is? He even came up with a way to make this less painful for you."

The pain shooting through my fingers was so intense that I couldn't even beg for mercy.

Serena had the bodyguards bring her a blade.

She grabbed my right hand and sliced into my skin. She spoke gently as she said the cruelest thing imaginable. "It'll be over soon. After this, you can stay home and do whatever you like. Just don't try to compete against Seth in any design competition."

I cried out in agony as bright red blood dripped to the floor. I was powerless to fight back the entire time.

One thought stayed with me—I would never love Serena again.

After crippling my right hand at Seth's request, Serena finally dropped the blade onto the floor.

"Get Mr. Connell to the hospital. Now," she said.

The bodyguards dragged my limp body into the car.

Just then, a black sedan pulled up and stopped in front of Serena.

Ben got out and handed her the documents. "Ms. Clark, these are the final divorce papers for you and Mr. Connell."

When I heard that the divorce was finalized, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

From now on, Serena and I would have nothing to do with each other.

Serena's face fell. When she opened the divorce papers and saw our names, she grabbed Ben by the collar.

"Who the hell told you to get me divorced?"